Door hangers and track therefor



March 5, N. DOOR HANGERS AND TRACK THEREFOR 2 Sheds-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, 1954 3/ 3a 22 3 m/ 4 j -FIG.4

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INVENTOR F I 2 .Mzthazz Gussaak FIG.3

ATTORNEY March 5, 1957 N. GUSSACK DOOR HANGERS AND TRACK THEREFOR 2 meta-sheet 2 Filed March 9. 1954 FIG.6

FIG.7

IFIG.1O

INVENTOR l fficm Gamma/c j BY 7 ATTORNEY Uite States Patent DOOR HANGERS AND TRACK THEREFOR Nathan Gussack, Flushing, N. Y., assignor to Grant Pulley & Hardware Corporation, Flushing, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 9, 1954, Serial No. 415,007

4 Claims. (Cl. 16-97) This invention relates to rolling or sliding doors and, more particularly, to an improved and simplified mounting and supporting arrangement for sliding doors of the type suspended from an overhead track.

By the term sliding door as used herein is meant the type of door which moves across a doorway in a plane parallel to that of the opening, as distinguished from a hinged door which swings between open and closed positions. Such sliding doors may have sliding engagement with supporting and guiding tracks, but are more commonly mounted on rollers engaged with the tracks.

Sliding doors may be suspended from overhead tracks, supported on a track on the floor, or guided by both an overhead track and a floor track. The overhead type of suspension is generally favored for the reason that there is no obstruction in the doorway at the floor level, which factor is of particular importance in factories and from a safety standpoint in general. The closure for a doorway may comprise a single door, or two or more doors may be suspended from parallel tracks, the number of individual doors being usually dependent upon the width of the controlled opening.

Desirable characteristics of overhead suspended sliding doors include ease of mounting on the overhead track, adjustability of door height where clearances permit, maintenance of proper clearance between overlapping doors, and proper distribution of the door weight along the length of the track.

To this end, the present invention is directed to an improved overhead suspension arrangement for sliding doors in which the door weight is at all times evenly divided between all of the rollers supporting the door. To this end, the suspension arrangement includes articulated suspension trolley supports cooperating with a novel form of supporting track.

Each trolley includes a pair of side frames or plates, each rotatably mounting a roller at each end. Each side plate is pivotally connected, intermediate its ends, to an upwardly extendingleg of a U-shape hanger, so that the side plates or arms may oscillate in a vertical plane.

The rollers are mounted on the inner sides of the side plates and the rollers on each side plate are separated a short distance from the rollers on the other side plate. Th rollers are arranged to engage the horizontal rails on either side of the vertical web of an inverted .T-shape or T-beam shape track. In the case of two or more doors for a single opening, the track is formed as an inverted channel having horizontal rails projecting from both. sides of'its vertical legs.

With the articulated construction ofthe trolley, any weight on the hanger is divided equally between the four rollers due" to the independent pivotal mounting of the side plates or bars on the hanger legs. The hanger, which is somewhat elongated, has a central opening in its base from which V-shape grooves extend in either direction longitudinally of the base. The base opening communicates with a substantially longer opening in one side wall or leg.

The door suspension stud is threaded and has a T-shape head. The under-surfaces of this head are formed as knife edges. When the head is inserted through the leg opening of the hanger, the knife edges engage the V-shape grooves in the base, so that the stud may swing laterally of the base opening. A nut is threaded on the stud so that, when a door hung from a stud is plumb, the nut may be tightened to clamp the stud against movement.

The studs may be of different lengths and types. In one form, the stud is relatively short and has a vertically offset portion of a horizontal strap secured thereto and arranged to be secured or bolted to the upper edge of the door. This same type of stud may have secured thereto the shorter leg ofan angular bracket having a longer leg or face extending along a door face. This longer leg has parallel, diagonal, longitudinally offset slots receiving securing means for attachment of the bracket to the door. By means of the diagonal slots, the vertical position of the door may be adjusted within limits.

In another form of adjustable mounting, the threaded stud shank is elongated and has a radial slot or groove extending therealong. The stud is arranged to be inserted through a conforming hole in an offset of a horizontal top plate secured to the top edge of a door. This hole has a radially inwardly extending projection fitting the stud groove to hold the stud against turning. Nuts on the stud above and below the top plate adjust and retain the door at the right height.

To mount the doors, one or more trolleys are mounted on the track through cut-outs in the rails. The studs are secured to the upper parts of the door and the door is then moved toward the track to insert the stud heads through the side openingsinl the brackets or housings; The door is then freely suspended from the trolleys so that it may seek the plumb position. The studs are then clamped against swinging and the door height is adjusted if one of the adjustable mountings is used.

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description and the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial elevation view of a sliding door suspended from the invention arrangement;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of one form of adjustable mounting;

Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical and horizontal sectional views on the correspondingly numbered lines of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a central vertical sectional view through the housing bracket or housing and the head of a mounting stud, illustrating the relation of these parts;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a different form of adjustable mounting;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation view of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an elevation view illustrating the mounting of a trolley-on the track;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation view illustrating the nonadjustable mounting of a pair of overlapping doors; and

Fig. 10 is a side elevation view of a non-adjustable mounting.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 5, the suspension arrangement of the invention, as applied to single sliding doors, includes an overhead track 15 having the general shape of an inverted T-beam. Track 15 includes an elongated horizontal base 16, a vertical Web 17 and a head providing a pair of horizontal rails 18 separated by web 17.

The rails 18 are arranged to receive rollers 21 mounted on an articulated frame trolley 20. Trolley 20 includes a U-shape housing or hanger 25 having. a base 22 and side walls 23. The upper end edges of side walls 23 are curved toward each other, as at 24 for a purpose to be described. The base 22 has a, central apertur e26 communicating with an elongated opening 27 in one side wall. Extending centrally along base 22 in each direction from opening 26 are V-grooves 28, thecombined or. overall extent of opening 26 and grooves 28 being substantially equal to the' length of opening 27. Grooves 28 are formed by offsetting base 22 downwardly along its longitudinal center line.

Rollers 21 are rotatably mounted on the inner sides of sideframes or bars, or rockers 30, each roller being mounted adjacent an end of a rocker. The rockers are generally flat bars, but are inwardly offset, as at 31, along diagonal bend lines 32. Each rocker arm. is centrally pivoted to a leg 25, as by means of a rivet 33, for oscillationin a vertical plane. The rollers 21 are rotatably mounted on rivets 34 with spacing washers 36.

By reference to Fig. 2, it will beobserved that the curved upper edges 24 of housing legs are eccentric to rivets 33. Also, bends 32 are closely adjacent edges 24. These features limit rocking movement of rockers 30 by engagement of bends 32 with edges 24.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 through 5, the door suspension includes a stud 4t permanentl'y connected to an angular apron or bracket 50 secured to a door 55. Stud 40 includes a partially threaded shank 41 and a T-head42. The undersurface of head 42 on either side of shank 41 is formed as a knife edge 45.

Bracket or apron 50 includes a relatively narrow horizontal leg 51 and a relatively wide vertical leg 52, the legs being reinforced by offset portions as at 53. The upper leg 51 has a central, upwardly olfset apertured boss 54. The shank 41 of stud 40 is provided with a reduced, unthreaded end 43 which is inserted through the aperture in boss 54 and spun over to form a head 44, thus permanently connecting stud40 to apron 50.

Vertical leg 52 of apron 50 is formed with parallel diagonal slots 56 which are somewhat oifset longitudinally from each other. These slots receive screws or bolts 57 for securing aprons 59 to door 55. The slots also provide for relative vertical adjustment of the apron 50 and door 55. One edge of each slot may be notched, as at 58, to lock the adjusted position of the apron.

To'mount door 55 on track 15, the requisite number of trolleys 25 are first mounted on the track and properly spaced therealong. Nuts 46 on studs 40 are loosened downwardly. Door 55, with aprons 50 attached, is then moved toward the door opening to insert stud heads 42 through openings 27 until shanks 41 are in openings 26 and knife edges 45 aligned with V-grooves 28. The door is then lowered to engage the knife edges in the grooves, so that the door is freely suspended. When the door is plumb, nuts 46 are tightened to clamp studs 40 to housing 25. Screws 57 may then be loosened and the door vertically adjusted, after which screws 57 are again tightened.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate another form of adjustable mounting. In this mounting a stud 140 is provided having a head construction substantially identical to head 42 of stud 40. However, shank 141 is substantially longer than shank41 and has a radial groove 147 extending therealong. Shank 141 is arranged to be inserted through a circular opening in an upwardly ofi'set portion 61 of a substantially horizontal elongated plate 60 secured to the top edge of door 55 by screws or bolts 62. The opening in plate 60 has an inwardly projecting ear engageablein groove 147 to prevent relative turning of stud 140 and plate 60. p

Adjustment of door 55 is provided by nuts 64 and 65 threaded on shank 141 and disposed above and beneath plate 60. A hole 66 may be provided in the upper edge of door 55 to accommodate stud 140. v

Fig. 8 illustrates the mountingof trolley 20 on track 15. Rails 18 are cut away as at 14 adjacent either or bjothed'ges 67 of a doorway '68. Trolley 20 is then tilted to engage the leading rollers 21 with rails 18, followed by engage ment of the trailing rollers with the rails. The longitudinal position of the trolleys relative to door 55 is so selected that engagement of the door with its stops will keep trolleys 20 from riding into cut-away portions 14.

Fig. 9 illustrates the invention as applied to overlapping doors. In this case, a double track is provided, in the shape of an inverted channel having a horizontal base 116, flanges 117, and horizontal rails 113 on each side of each flange 117. Base 116, as well as the base 16 of track 15, may be apertured for securing the track to an overhead structure.

Fig. 10 illustrates a non-adjustable suspension in which the stud 46 is permanently secured to top plate 60 in the same manner as it is secured to apron 50. This arrangement, as well as that of Figs. 6 and 7, may be used where it is desired to conceal the door suspension.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. Sliding door supporting means comprising, in combination, a hanger including a substantially horizontal wall having an aperture therein and formed with V-grooves extending longitudinally in both directions from said aperture; rollers rotatably supported on said hanger for rotation in a vertical plane and engageable with a horizontal rail on an overhead track to support said hanger on said track with said horizontal wall beneath said rail; a stud having a threaded shank and a head perpendicular to said shank and formed with a knife edge on its under surface; a door supporting bracket secured to said shank; said shank extending through said aperture and said knife edge seating in said V-grooves to suspend the door for swinging movement to a plumb position; and a nut threaded on said shank to engage said horizontal wall to clamp said stud against swinging movement when the door is plumb.

2. A trolley for suspending a sliding door from an overhead track having a horizontal rail, said trolley comprising, in combination, a U-shape housing having a horizontal base and laterally spaced vertical walls extending from said base; said base having a central aperture therein and formed with V-grooves extending longitudinally in both directions from said aperture; said aperture communicating with a larger opening in one of said vertical walls; and rollers rotatably supported on the vertical walls of said housing for rotation in a vertical plane and engageable with said rail with said vertical walls embracing said track and said base beneath said rail; said larger opening being adapted to pass the head of a stud having a shank and a head perpendicular to said shank and formed with a knife edge on its under surface with said shank extending through said aperture and said knife edge seating in said V-grooves to suspend the door for swinging movement to a plumb position.

3. A trolley for suspending a sliding door from an overhead track having a horizontal rail, said trolley comprising, in combination, a U-shape housing having a horizontal base and laterally spaced vertical walls extending from said base; said base having a central aperture therein and formed with V-grooves extending longitudinally in both directions from said aperture; said aperture communicating with a larger opening inone of said vertical walls; rocker arm means pivotally mounted on each of said vertical walls for oscillation ina vertical plane; and rollers rotatably supported on said rocker arm means on either side of'and spaced from the pivotal mounting of said rocker arm means and 'engageable with said rail with said vertical walls embracing said track and said base beneath said rail; said larger opening being adapted to pass the head of a stud having a shank and a head perpendicular to said shank and formed with a knife edge on its under surface with said shank extending through said aperture and said knife edge seating in said V-grooves to suspend the door for swinging movement to a plumb position.

4. A trolley for suspending a sliding door from an overhead track having a horizontal rail, said trolley comprising, in combination, a U-shape housing having a horizontal base and laterally spaced vertical walls extending from said base; said base having a central aperture therein and formed with V-grooves extending longitudinally in both directions from said aperture; said aperture communicating with a larger opening in one of said vertical walls; rocker arm means pivotally mounted on each of said vertical walls for oscillation in a vertical plane; rollers rotatably supported on said rocker arm means on either side of and spaced from the pivotal mounting of said rocker arm means and engageable with said rail with said vertical walls embracing said track and said base beneath said rail; and interengageable means on said vertical wall and said rocker arm means limiting oscillation of the latter; said larger opening being adapted to pass the head of a stud having a shank and a head perpendicular to said shank and formed with a knife edge on its under surface with said shank extending through said aperture and said knife edge seating in said V-grooves to suspend the door for swinging movement to a plumb position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES American Builder, October 1950 at page 226. American Builder, volume 75, number 1, January 1953,

25 pages 249 and 27s. 

